Digital Commons Network^™

Elevated Lactate In Aml Bone Marrow Contributes To Macrophage Polarization Via Gpr81 Signaling., Celia A Soto, Maggie L Lesch, Jennifer L Becker, Azmeer Sharipol, Amal Khan, Xenia L Schafer, Zhewen Li, Amanda R Streeter, Michael W Becker, Joshua C Munger, Benjamin J Frisch

Oncology Articles

Interactions between acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and the bone marrow microenvironment (BMME) are critical to leukemia progression and chemoresistance. In the solid tumor microenvironment, altered metabolite levels contribute to cancer progression. We performed a metabolomic analysis of AML patient bone marrow serum, revealing increased metabolites compared to age- and sex-matched controls. The most highly elevated metabolite in the AML BMME was lactate. Lactate signaling in solid tumors induces immunosuppressive tumor-associated macrophages and correlates with poor prognosis. This has not yet been studied in the leukemic BMME. Herein, we describe the role of lactate in the polarization of leukemia-associated macrophages (LAMs). …

Assessing Readiness For Point-Of-Care Ultrasound Implemenatation In A Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, Stacy Lynn Brunquist

Student Projects for Graduate Degrees

Point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) is an emerging diagnostic tool in neonatal care, yet widespread use in NICUs remains limited by provider training, confidence and organizational readiness. The purpose of this evidence-based practice project was to evaluate whether a brief POCUS educational intervention improved NICU provider readiness for adoption. Using a pre/post design, NICU providers at a regional tertiary NICU in Alaska completed the POCUS Readiness and Adoption Survey (PRAS) immediately before and after a structured 45-minute POCUS orientation presentation. The PRAS measured six domains: knowledge, attitudes, change efficacy, organizational support, intent to adopt, and perceived barriers. Twelve providers completed both surveys. …

Cv: Frank Mcnamara (Radiography), Frank Mcnamara

Health Sciences Department Curricula Vitae

No abstract provided.

Empowering Digital Fluency: A Course-Based Strategy For Practical Ai Tool Integration In Higher Education, Melissa J. Brooks

Teaching Repository of AI-Infused Learning

This course was designed to introduce students to a range of AI tools while enabling hands-on experience in their practical application. Students were required to explore multiple AI tools across domains such as content generation, data visualization, video production, note-taking, and accessibility. The course culminated in a final project where students selected and applied an AI tool (or set of tools) to create a resume, a cover letter, and a presentation about themselves and how they anticipate the use of AI in their chosen Industry. Tools recommended were Jenni.AI, ChatGPT, Slide bean, Canva, Grammarly, Gamma, Synthesia.AI, and Perplexity, Otter.AI. One …

State Of California Cannabis Reporting, University Of Mississippi – National Center For Cannabis Research And Education

California

No abstract provided.

Disease Burden Attributable To Intimate Partner Violence Against Females And Sexual Violence Against Children In 204 Countries And Territories, 1990–2023: A Systematic Analysis For The Global Burden Of Disease Study 2023, Gbd 2023 Intimate Partner Violence And Sexual Violence Against Children Collaborators, Sarvenaz Taridashti

Department of Psychology Faculty Scholarship and Creative Works

Background

Violence against women and against children are human rights violations with lasting harms to survivors and societies at large. Intimate partner violence (IPV) and sexual violence against children (SVAC) are two major forms of such abuse. Despite their wide-reaching effects on individual and community health, these risk factors have not been adequately prioritised as key drivers of global health burden. Comprehensive x§and reliable estimates of the comparative health burden of IPV and SVAC are urgently needed to inform investments in prevention and support for survivors at both national and global levels.

Methods

We estimated the prevalence and attributable burden …

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Impact Of Novel Rheumatic Heart Disease Education On Rwandan Nurses' Knowledge And Skills, Julie Carragher

Biennial Convention (CONV)

Untreated group A streptococcus pharyngitis, along with the resulting post-infection sequelae of acute rheumatic fever (ARF) and rheumatic heart disease (RHD) of young susceptible individuals occurs in lower income countries, including Rwanda. This is largely due to limited access health care and inadequate knowledge about the detection and treatment of the infection. Approximately 33 million people worldwide live with RHD. In Rwanda, the prevalence of RHD is estimated at 6.8 per 1000 school children. With only nine cardiologists serving a population of nearly fourteen million, there is a significant gap in accessible RHD care across the country. In Rwanda, nurses, …

Analytical Assessment Of Pedestrian Crashes On Low-Speed Corridors, Therezia Matongo, Deo Chimba

Civil and Architectural Engineering Faculty Research

This study presents a comprehensive statewide analysis of pedestrian-involved crashes recorded in Tennessee between 2002 and 2025. We evaluated the influence of roadway, traffic, environmental, and socioeconomic factors on pedestrian crash frequency and severity with substantial components focused on lighting impacts including dark and nighttime. A multi-method analytical framework was implemented, combining descriptive statistics, non-parametric tests, regression analysis, and advanced machine learning techniques including the Adaptive Neuro-Fuzzy Inference System (ANFIS) and the gradient boosting model (XGBoost). Results indicated that dark and nighttime conditions accounted for a disproportionate share of severe crashes—fatal and serious injuries under dark conditions reached over 40%, …

Assessing Health Literacy In Somali Women Living In The United States With Hypertension, Tawanna Morris

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Health literacy (HL) remains a critical public health concern, particularly among immigrant populations. This qualitative study explored how low health literacy relates to hypertension (HTN) management among Somali immigrant women. Low HL and chronic conditions such as HTN continue to affect this group disproportionately, emphasizing the need for targeted interventions. Guided by the Health Belief Model, this research examined Somali immigrant women’s perceptions of HL, how literacy levels influence hypertension management, and the barriers they encounter when managing their condition. Five Somali immigrant women who met the criteria participated in semi-structured interviews. All spoke English, were at least 18 years …

Implementing Dataops: A Scalable Framework For Modern Data Warehousing, Dmytro Valiaiev

Theses and Dissertations

DataOps has been coined as a novel term that emerged as a synthesis of data management practices with software engineering concepts, such as DevOps and Agile, with the goal of improving data quality and governance in enterprises. The proliferation of scratch table use and transformation tools, such as dbt, has led to an exponential increase in the number of data models, which complicates standardization efforts and increases maintenance overhead. Although the market is saturated with various flavors of text-to-SQL engines that promote increased productivity and self-service use in organizations, there are limited tools available to optimize individual queries, enforce consistency, …

Inferring Disease Progression Networks To Predict Comorbidities, Nolan Stuessy

Honors Capstone Projects and Theses

No abstract provided.

December 9, 2025 Ereporter, University Of Alabama At Birmingham

eReporter (campus newsletter)

No abstract provided.

2025-11-11 Leadership Team Minutes, Susie Salazar

Executive Council Minutes

No abstract provided.

2025-11-18 Executive Council Minutes, Susie Salazar

Executive Council Minutes

No abstract provided.

Cv: Margaret Lupo (Radiography), Margaret Lupo

Health Sciences Department Curricula Vitae

No abstract provided.

In-Silico Test Of Myricetin, Phyllanthin, Luteolin Compounds Against Sars-Cov-2 Proteins, Vidia Noviyanti, Nuha Haifa Arifin, Hayu Ikfini, Rifki Febriansah

Pharmaceutical Sciences and Research

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), which emerged in late 2019 and was first detected in Indonesia in March 2020, has significantly reshaped the country’s public health landscape. Aside from the viral outbreak itself, a decline in immunity among the population due to excessive concern about the pandemic has also become a significant issue. This study aimed to evaluate the potential of myricetin, phyllanthin, and luteolin compounds as inhibitors of the SARS-CoV-2 (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2) virus by targeting the main protease and spike glycoprotein receptor-binding domain proteins through in silico molecular docking. Remdesivir and favipiravir were used as comparison …

Translational Ultrasound-Photoacoustic Imaging For Quantitative And Functional Cancer Diagnosis, Yixiao Lin

McKelvey School of Engineering Graduate Student Theses & Dissertations

Cancer remains a leading cause of death worldwide, underscoring the need for imaging technologies that provide both structural and functional insights into cancer biology. Photoacoustic imaging (PAI), which detects ultrasonic signals generated by optical absorption, combines the strengths of both modalities, achieving optical contrast with ultrasonic resolution and depth. When co-registered with ultrasound (US), the hybrid US-PAI platform offers a unique combination of high-resolution anatomical and functional imaging that can improve cancer diagnosis, characterization, and treatment monitoring. This dissertation explores the clinical translation of US-PAI through innovations in imaging system design, computational analysis, and clinical validation across three major cancer …

From The Margins To The Center: The Transformative Promise Of Philosophy For Children, Maughn Rollins Gregory, Megan Jane Laverty, Joe Oyler

Department of Educational Foundations Scholarship and Creative Works

What began as an innovative idea in the late 1960s—the recognition that even very young children are philosophically disposed—is no longer considered novel. While philosophy for children has transitioned from a fledgling initiative to a worldwide movement, it remains on the margins of education. In this article, we look back at key initiatives that have advanced its growth before looking ahead to what can move philosophy for children to the center of education. We consider the introduction and development of materials that invite children into philosophical spaces, the community of philosophical inquiry as a model of teachers' and children's philosophical …

Citizen's Rare Plant Watch 2025 Recap, Nora Dunkirk

Rae Selling Berry Seed Bank and Plant Conservation Program

Citizen's Rare Plant Watch (CRPW) is a community science program which takes volunteers out to visit populations of rare and threatened Oregon native plant species. Volunteers assess their health and viability, update the Oregon Biodiversity Information Center (ORBIC) state database for rare species, and help contribute to data driven management decisions throughout the state. Housed at Portland State University, this program is open to the public and attracts plant lovers from diverse backgrounds. Each spring, CRPW trains volunteers on methods of data collection, and this year we implemented new technology using Survey123 to streamline population assessments. We focus on species …

Ai And Racism: 6 Reasons Black People Need Digital Literacy, Brianna A. Baker

Publications and Research

Key Points

• AI often reflects racial bias in its training data, which can distort how Black people are represented.
• Psychological stress increases when digital tools misunderstand or misinterpret Black experiences.
• Digital literacy strengthens emotional wellbeing by helping users recognize and counter biased outputs.

How Does County Educational Composition Affect Mortality?, Heeyoung Lee, Tse-Chuan Yang

Population Health Research Brief Series

The gap in life expectancy between Americans with and without a bachelor's degree keeps growing. This brief summarizes findings from a study using data from the National Center for Health Statistics Multiple Cause of Death files and the American Community Survey on 3,122 U.S. counties from 2010-2022. The authors find that a county's educational makeup creates divergent mortality effects for residents. For every 1% increase in bachelor's degree holders in a county, mortality declines by 4.5% for degree holders but increases by 1.2% for those without degrees. This pattern holds across heart disease, cancer, and stroke. The findings suggest that …

The Breakdown Of Neurovascular Barriers: Molecular Mechanisms Of Tight Junction Dysfunction, Sowmya Shree Gopal, Mandeep Kaur, Sophie Lanzkron, Amit K. Srivastava

Department of Medicine Faculty Papers

The central nervous system (CNS) relies on tightly regulated barriers to maintain homeostasis and protect neural tissue from blood-borne toxins, pathogens, and inflammatory mediators. Tight junctions (TJs) are critical components of the blood-brain barrier (BBB) and blood-spinal cord barrier (BSCB), forming selective paracellular seals that regulate molecular trafficking. These structures comprise transmembrane proteins and cytoplasmic scaffolding proteins, which anchor TJs to the actin cytoskeleton. The spatial organization and function of TJs are dynamically regulated by calcium-dependent signaling, phosphorylation events, and G-protein-mediated pathways, which govern their assembly, disassembly, and response to physiological and pathological stimuli. The integrity of TJ complexes is …

Identification Of Predictive Pretreatment Biomarkers For Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy Response In Latino Invasive Breast Cancer Patients, Hedda Michelle Guevara-Nieto, Rafael Parra-Medina, Carlos A. Orozco, Sandra Diaz-Casas, Jone Garai, Jovanny Zabaleta, Liliana López-Kleine, Alba L. Combita

School of Medicine Faculty Publications

Background: Breast cancer (BC) exhibits significant heterogeneity in incidence and mortality worldwide. Neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) is the standard treatment for locally advanced BC; however, its efficacy varies by subtype. This study examined the gene expression profiles associated with NAC response in Colombian women with invasive BC. Methods: RNA sequencing of pre-treatment tissues from 58 patients (29 responders and 29 non-responders) identified differentially expressed genes (DEGs) for each molecular subtype, and prognostic performance was evaluated using risk scores. Results: Functional enrichment analysis highlighted the immune system pathways in non-responders. Changes in cytokine target activity and immune cell populations were analyzed to …

Portable Skin Imaging Light-Box For Clinical Grade Skin Scans, Kayandra Lewis, Cayden Skidmore, Komi Atitsogbe Golo

Senior Design Project For Engineers

This project focuses on designing and developing a modular, portable skin-imaging light box to improve the consistency and accuracy of smartphone-based dermatological imaging. As AI-driven skin assessment tools grow in capability, a major limitation remains the variability in lighting, angle, and color fidelity in user-captured photos. To address this challenge, the team created a fold-flat, low-cost light box that attaches securely to a wide range of smartphones and provides uniform, high-CRI illumination suitable for clinical-grade analysis. Research into lighting technologies, human factors, smartphone specifications, and AI diagnostic tools guided the engineering decisions, ensuring the design aligned with real-world telemedicine and …

The Assimmigration Matrix: Dismantling Families And Assimilating The Children Left Behind, Jamie C. Cooper

Seton Hall Law Review

No abstract provided.

The Real Story Of Nepa Litigation In Clean Energy Permitting, Anna Mance

Seton Hall Law Review

No abstract provided.

Modeling Private Debt Using U.S. Consumer Expenditure Data, Stsiapan Dziamentsyeu

Honors Capstones

This project models private household debt among U.S. consumers using data from the Consumer Expenditure Survey (CES) between 2013 and 2023. The analysis focuses on identifying how demographic and economic characteristics, such as income, housing expenditures, education, and occupation, relate to non-mortgage “other” loan balances. After initial model development produced poor residual behavior due to zero-inflation from imputed debt values, the analysis was refined to include only households reporting verifiable debt. Multiple modeling techniques, including AIC-based variable selection and Lasso regularization, were compared under a five-fold cross-validation framework. The Lasso model achieved superior predictive accuracy (RMSE = 1.55, MAE = …

Critical Nursing Interventions For Post-Extubation Icu Patients, Estevao Frederico De Souza, Tricia M. Grinder, Sarah Rigsby, Samantha Vallespi

Biennial Convention (CONV)

Introduction: The 24-to-72-hour period post-extubation is a critical phase for intensive care patients, and can result in many complications. Nurses must be expertly trained in the interventions available to reduce the risks associated with the procedure.

Objectives: This systematic review aims to critically evaluate the existing literature about nursing interventions associated with patients after extubation, providing evidence to guide the nursing practice to reduce extubation failure, reintubation rates, and hospital stays.

Methodology: This systematic review includes studies from CINAHL, PubMed Central, Medline, and Health Source Nursing Academic Edition, focusing on international peer-reviewed full-text research articles.

Setting: The study has a …

Critical Factors Influencing Breast Cancer Screening In Caribbean-American Women Of African Ancestry, Corvette V. Yacoob, Indra Hershorin, Michele Upvall, Ronica Subramoney

Biennial Convention (CONV)

Background: Breast cancer is one of the most commonly diagnosed cancers in women and the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths among women in the United States. Globally, a woman is diagnosed with breast cancer every 14 seconds, underscoring the urgent need for early detection through screening to reduce mortality rates. Black women experience higher mortality rates than other ethnic groups, emphasizing the importance of early detection and screening in improving clinical outcomes.

Purpose: This qualitative constructivist grounded theory study explored key factors influencing breast cancer screening practices among Caribbean-American women of African ancestry, that aided in the development of …

The Association Between Loneliness And Mental Health In Underserved Communities, Ameemah Khan, Yu-Ping Chang

Biennial Convention (CONV)

Background: Loneliness is a distressing emotional state that arises when an individual's actual social relationships do not align with their desired social connections. As loneliness becomes increasingly prevalent among adults, its adverse effects on mental health have grown more evident. Research links loneliness to poor sleep quality, suicidal ideation, severe depressive symptoms, and heightened stress. These effects are particularly pronounced in underserved communities, where social determinants of health disproportionately impact African Americans, contributing to poorer health outcomes. However, limited research explores the relationship between loneliness, sleep, and depression specifically within African American populations.

Purpose: This study aims to determine whether …